Acid scrubber
An acid scrubber is a proven air pollution control technique for removing volatile nitrogen compounds and epoxides from gas streams. By transferring these components into an acidic liquid phase, they are converted into non‑volatile salts or compounds, enabling very high removal efficiencies.
Why choose an Acid Scrubber?
Removal of volatile nitrogen compounds:
- NH₃
- methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine
- ethylamine
- hexamethylene diamine
Removal of epoxides
- ethylene oxide
- proplylene oxide
- butylene oxide
Pollutants treated with acid scrubbing
How does Trevi's acid scrubber work?
Gas absorption and chemical conversion
Acid gas scrubbing implies a transfer of volatile components from the gas phase to the liquid phase (acid conditions) with a subsequent neutralisation or hydrolysis of the volatile compound towards a non‑volatile compound or salt.
In most cases, sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) is used as scrubbing liquid because of its low cost and low vapour pressure. Other acids that can be used are hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO₃), formic acid (HCOOH),…
Operating modes and removal efficiency
The scrubber can be operated in a batch mode (e.g. operated with a 10% H₂SO₄ solution) or with an automated acid dosing control system as a function of a pH‑measurement. In the latter case, a refreshment of scrubbing liquid based on the electrical conductivity (EC) is needed in order to prevent salt deposition.
Under optimal conditions, very high (> 99%) removal efficiencies can be obtained in an acid scrubber for compounds as e.g. NH₃, trimethylamine etc. For the scrubbing of compounds like ethylene oxide, multistage scrubbers are provided with removal efficiencies up to 99.9999% or higher.
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